KU News Release

KU senior’s urban mobility project puts her in semifinals of international competition

Natalie Bonebrake

LAWRENCE — Natalie Bonebrake, a University of Kansas senior from Topeka majoring in industrial design, was a semifinalist in the fifth annual Interior Motives Design Awards competition, an international event sponsored by Motives Design magazine of London.

The Interior Motives competition celebrates creative thinking and innovation in automotive interior design and provides a meeting place for the world’s auto design industry. Bonebrake’s “Zero-Impact Urban Mobility” was one of 50 designs selected this summer for the semifinals. Her design proposed the creation of intelligent transport that would provide mobility in an urban setting but would have zero impact on the delicate ecosystem.

Although her design proposal was not chosen for the final round, which takes place Sept. 12 in Frankfurt, Germany, Bonebrake was one of the few semifinalists from a public U.S. university at the international competition.

“I am thrilled to have represented KU at such a prestigious event,” said Bonebrake.

Lance Rake, KU professor of industrial design, encouraged Bonebrake to enter her design, which was a project from the spring 2007 industrial design course he teaches. The class is required for industrial design majors and this year was structured around the Interior Motives competition.

Bonebrake is the daughter of Richard and Carol Bonebrake and a graduate of Topeka High School.

“The Department of Design is pleased that our students continue to place in competitions and receive awards for their conceptions and innovations even though we do not offer concentration in these specific areas,” said Greg Thomas, chair of the design department.

For more information, contact the Department of Design at (785) 864-4401 or visit the School of Fine Arts Web site.

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